Manifolding and copying apparatus



March 1952 THEODORE ARTHUR SOLWAY 2,539,384

FORMERLY TIBOR ZSOLNAI MANIFOLDING AND COPYING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 28, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 I rwentor.

THEODORE A- SOLWAY, FORMERLY TIBOR ZSOLNAI 7 Attorney March 18, 1952 Filed Nov. 28, 1947 THEODORE ARTHUR SO LWAY FORMERLY TIBOR ZSOLNAI MANIFOLDING AND COPYING APPARATUS 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 FIGS.

III

Ipventor THEODORE SOLWAY, P02505213 TIBOR ZSOI .NAI

By WM 912%;

- A tlorney Patented Mar. 18, 1952 MANIFOLDING AND COPYING APPARATUS Theodore Arthur Solway, formerly Tibor Zsolnai, London, England Application November 28, 1947, Serial No. 788,574 In Great Britain February 8, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires February 8, 1966 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a manifold or copying apparatus which is primarily intended for use in making from an original entry or record card two or more records of which one or more is a summary of the original entries and one or more is a copy of one or more lines of the original entry and summary. The apparatus is particularly suitable for use in connection with wages systems, as it enables an individual wages card, a summary sheet and a pay envelope to be written simultaneously in one operation. The apparatus, however, can be used for a variety of other purposes such as invoicing systems, sales and purchase ledger accounting, stores accounts and the like.

' For the sake of simplicity, however, the invention will be hereinafter described in connection with a wages system in which an original entry card, a summary sheet and a pay envelope are used, but it will be understood that it may be applied to other systems.

In the specification of my British Patent No. 571,620 there is described a manifolding or copying apparatus comprising a baseboard, a magazine adapted to hold a stack of slips, sheets, envelopes or the like, with the uppermost exposed and substantially level with the surface of the baseboard and means for gripping the edges of sheets so that they are held in a predetermined position (at least in a direction at right angles to the gripped edges), relative to one another and to the slips or the like in the magazine. In a particular form of apparatus described in the said specification, the means for gripping the edges of the sheets placed on the baseboard comprises two releasable clamping devices arranged side by side in such -a manner that the sheet gripped by one of the devices can be released and replaced by another sheet without interfering with the sheet gripped by the other clamping device and the two clamping devices are mounted ona rack which is fitted in the baseboard and can be operated by means of a handle, the rack being moved relatively to the magazine by a distance equal to the pitch of the rack teeth and to the distance between the horizontal rulings on the sheets at each operation of the handle, and the magazine being simultaneously operated and transferred into a position in which the uppermost envelope can be readily removed.

In operatingv the aforesaid machine, a stack of pay envelopes is placed in the magazine, the two clamping devicesare released and a summary sheet is placed on' the base-board above the magazine and clamped by both clamping devices. An individual record card is then placed on the summary sheet and gripped by the clamping device nearest the magazine without disturbing the summary sheet. Sheets of carbon paper are placed on either side of the summary sheet, or if the latter is transparent, a double sided carbon may be used, the carbon sheets being preferably held in position by a separate clamping device. 7

An entry is then made by hand on the individual record card, copies thereof being simultaneously produced on the summary sheet and on the top envelope of the stack in the magazine. The handle is then actuated whereby the magazine is rendered accessible and the uppermost envelope with the entry on it is removed. The actuation of the handle results also in the rack together with the summary sheet and individual record card gripped by the clamping devices attached thereto being moved upwards by a distance corresponding to the pitch of the rack teeth so that the next horizontal line of the summary sheet is in its proper position relatively to the envelope in the magazine. Then the individual record card is released from its clamping device and removed without disturbing the summary sheet and a fresh card inserted; care must be taken however that the free horizontal line (i. e. the line to be written on) of the individual record card coincides with the next free horizontal line of the summary sheet. The operations are then repeated as before.

It will be clear from the above that in the apparatus owing to the clamping devices for the record cards and summary sheet being mounted on and movable with the rack, it is necessary to take care each time a fresh individual record card is inserted that the free line (i. e. the line to be written on) of the record card coincides with the next free line on the summary sheet, and the record card must be carefully adjusted in position.

Now, a primary object of the present invention is to enable the individual record cards to be inserted in proper position in relation to the summary sheet without any necessity for careful observation.

According to the invention, the apparatus comprises a baseboard or the like with which is associated a magazine adapted to hold a number of slips, envelopes or the like, withthe uppermost exposed and substantially level with the surface of the baseboard, a clamping device for gripping the edge of a summary sheet placed on the baseboard above the magazine, means whereby the clamping device may be moved in steps relatively to the magazine, and a second clamping device for gripping the edge of an individual record card placed on the summary sheet, the second clamping device being provided with means whereby it may be fixed in a number of different positions and being provided with a stop by which the position of the gripped sheet relatively to the line of movementfoi" the first mentioned sheet is fixed in such. a manner that when a card is placed against the stop and the clamping device is fixed in the proper position the free line on the card coincides with the tree line of the summary sheet and is above: the slip or the like in the magazine.

In other words the apparatus of th e aforesaid;

prior specification is modified in that the clamp the teeth of the rack 3 and is normally held in for the individual record cards, instead of being .fixed to and moving with the rack, is adjustable independently of the movable. rack. and can be fixed in. awnumber of different positions and is. provided with a. stop which ensures: that the: free line of the record card coincides. with. the. free linev of the summary sheet and with the. stationaryline of. entry of the slip; or the like in the magazine i In order that. the. invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, a manifold or copying apparatus in accordance with the-invention is illustrated by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which? l-Figure'6 is a section on the line VIVI of Figure 4, also drawn tdan enlarged scale.

Referring tothe drawings, the apparatus comprises a 'box or casing l which is divided into two compartments by a piece 2- which is spaced a shortdistance from the left-hand edge of the casing i.- Arack' 3, the length of which is approximately equal to the distance between the topand bottom" edges of' the casing is slidably mounted on a bar 4- which is fixed to the top of" thefpiece Z- the rack being formed with a dovetail groove which engages the correspondingly shaped edges of the bar 4. The upper surface of the rack is approximately level withthe-cover 5- of the-casing. Between the piece 2 and the right-hand edge of the casing I are fitted two cross-pieces and 2| which form a compartmen t to the sides of which are fixed by means of screws the downwardly flanged edges of a plate 2 2, the upper surface of which is some distance below the level of the cover 5 of the casing I'. In' the space above the plate 22 is slidably i fitted a magazine 23 which is open on top and at the-outer side edge. The magazine 23 contains a" platform 24 which is normally pressed upwards by means of four springs 25 so that its edges engage'under the inwardly flanged edges 26- of the? magazine 23 when the latter is empty.

"Between the piece 2 and the adjacent side of the casing 1 a plate fi which extends about halt way across the casing from the top edge; is fi-xe oh brackets- 1 and 8 respectivelywhich -are 1-6 in the plate 6.

' 'oted one end of a link 12, the other end of which is pivotally connected to a stud l3 fixed to and depending from a lever arm M which is swing- .ab1e'f'on the upper side of the plate 6 about a pivot l5, the stud passing through an aperture The downward movement of the lever arm in Figure 1 is limited by a stop l7.. The free end of the arm is pivoted to a forked member N3, the inner limb of which is in the form of a ratchet tooth which can engage engagement therewith by meansof a spring iii of. which oneend is. attached below the; plate 6 to a stud which is fixed to-"th'e forked member 18 and projects through the. aperture it in' the plate 6 and the other'end is. fixed: to the piece 2. The longer limb of the forked. member I3 is engageable by the end of a lever 2'! which is pivoted at 28 on the upper surface of the. plate 6'. A stud 53 fixed to the lever 21 extends through an aper ture 54 in the plate Sand is: acted upon by a spring so that the lever 21: is: normally pressed to the right (in Figure 1) into' a. position in whicha tooth 34 formed on the edge of the lever 21 is in engagement with one of the teeth: of the rack 3', and the longer limb of the forked member I8 is not engaged by the end of the lever 21. To the lever 21 is pivoted intermediate. its ends a link 29 provided with an aperture 30 in which acam 3| is disposed. The cam 3| is fixed. on a. shaft 32 which isjournalled in the-plate 6 and in a bracket 56 fixed thereto and passes through a hole in the cover 5 of the casing i. To. the free. end of the shaft 32 is fixed an operating knob or handle 33, so that, by turning the handle 33,. the lever 21 can be turned about itspivot 28 and causedto engage the longer armof the forkedv member 18 whereby both the. tooth 34 and the. shorter arm of the forked member |8 are disengaged from the rack which is then free to be: ad.- justed as desired or, if necessary, to be moved from the apparatus.

The shaft 9 is also formed or provided with a. downwardly projecting crank 35 to which. is. pivotally connected by means of a pin 37 one end. of a rod 36; The other end of the rod-3.5 is pivoted toone arm of a lever 38' which passes through a slot in the piece-2 and is pivoted thereto at- 39.- The other arm of the. lever 33 is: piyotally connected to one end of a link 40: of which the opposite end is pivoted to the bottom of. the magazine- 23, by means of a pivot or. screw 51. which passes through an elongated hole. in. the plate 22. To-the underside of the magazinezplatferm 24 are fixed two studs. Aland 42 which pro.-?

j'ect downwardly through two elongated'holes: 59

and 60' respectively in the plate 22. The studs.

right in Figures 1 and 2, the lever 38 and link 40'taking up the position indicated in dotted lines, and the magazine platform 24 is simultaneously lowered against the action of the springs 25 owing to the pins 43 and 44 being moved along the inclined edges of the ramps. At the same time the lever arm I4 is rotated about its pivot I5 so that the shorter limb of the forked member It moves the rack upwardly (in Figure 1) by a distance corresponding to the length of one tooth. Movement of the handle I may be limited by a suitable stop, or as shown in the drawing, by the edge of the handle abutting against the cover 5. When the handle I0 is released, the shaft 0 is returned to its original position by a spring 03, the movement of the shaft being limited by a stop 85, and the magazine is moved inwardly and its platform raised by the springs 25 as the pins 43 and 44 slide down the ramps. At the same time the arm I4 is returned to its original position and the shorter limb of the forked member is ridesover one of the rack teeth and engages the next tooth, the rack being prevented from moving by the tooth 34 which remains in engagement.

A bar IOI is pivoted at I02 to one end of the rack 3 and its other end is provided with a locking device I03 by means of which it may be secured to the other end of the rack. The bar IOI forms, with the rack, a clamp for the edge of the summary sheet which is provided with two or more holes to be engaged by pins I04 which project from the rack and enter recesses in the bar. The longitudinal edges of the bar IOI are dovetailed to receive a dovetailed slot formed in the underside of a block I05 so that the block can slide on the bar. A clamping device projects from the block I05 towards the magazine and in this embodiment comprises a plate I06 having a horizontal slot I20 into which a record card or the like can be inserted. Two holes are formed through the upper face of the plate I06 and into the slot to receive two pins I01 attached to the ends of a flat spring I08 secured at its centre to a bracket I09 on the upper face of the plate I06. Two stops IIO are provided on the upper face of the plate I06, each of these stops being located intermediate the bracket I09 and one end of the spring I08, the spring bears against the stops and two levers III are pivoted one on each side of the bracket I09, each lever having a projection for engaging the spring intermediate the bracket I09 and the stop H0. The levers III are provided to enable the central portions of the spring to be depressed so as to raise its ends and move the pins I01 upwards to enable a record card or the like to be inserted in the slot in the plate I00 whereupon, release of the levers will allow the pins to re-entf the holes in the plate I06 and clamp the record card or the like in position in the slot. At this upper end, the slot is closed by a stop I I2 to be engaged by the record card or the like for location purposes. Alternatively the stop II2 may be provided at the lower end of the slot.

Means are provided for retaining the block I05, and consequently the clamping means together with the record card or the like secured thereby, in any one of a number of positions longitudinally along the bar IOI. One embodiment of means for this purpose is illustrated in the drawings, see particularly Figures 4, 5 and 6, in which a plate H3 is secured to the casing and located alongside the bar MI. The block I05 has an extension II4 overhanging the plate H3 and a spring-pressed ball II5 carried thereby engages a series'of holes II6 provided in the plate, the holes being spaced apart corresponding with the spacing of the lines of entry on the record card or the like. Numbers corresponding for example to the weeks of the year, or with the number of lines on the record card, may be marked on the plate alongside some or all of the holes. The spring-pressed ball II5 may be replaced by any other convenient device which be engaged with the holes IIS. Any other; convenient means may be provided for retaining the record card or the like in any one of a number of positions corresponding with the lines of entry thereon.

The method of operation of the apparatus, as applied to a wages system, is as follows:

The operating handle I0 is depressed to shift the magazine to the right and lower the platform 24, and a stack of pay envelopes H9 is inserted in the magazine. The handle is then released whereupon the magazine is returned to its original position and the envelopes are firmly held therein with the uppermost one substantially level with the cover 5 of the casing.

The locking device I03 is released and the ba ml is swung about its pivot I02 so that it is clear of the rack. A summary sheet II'I is'then placed on the baseboard 5 with its left hand side over the rack 3 so that the pins I04 project through the holes in the margin of the sheet I II. A sheet of carbon paper is placed on each side of the sheet 7, or if the latter is transparent, a double sided carbon may be used beneath the sheet I II, the carbon paper having holes for engagement with the pins I04. The sheets are clamped in position by returning the bar ml to its original position and re-engaging the locking device I03. The tooth 34 and the shorter arm of the forked member I8 are disengaged from the rack by turning the handle 33 so that the rack can be moved to carry the sheet III until the first line of entry on the sheet coincides with the line of entry on the pay envelope, for which purpose a stop may be provided as at 3a, whereupon the handle 33 is again turned to allow the teeth to re-engage with the rack. The two levers III are then depressed to withdraw the pins I01 from the holes in the plate I06 and an individ-v ual record card H8 is inserted in the slot in the plate I06with its upper edge engaging the stop I I 2 and clamped in position by the pins I01 when the levers I I I are released. The block I05 is then moved along the bar IOI, carrying with it the record card and without disturbing the sheet I I1, until the required or first free line of entry on the record card is in register with the first line of entry on the sheet In and the block is retained in this position by the spring pressed ball I I5 or other retaining means engaging one of the holes I I6 in the plate I I3.

The apparatus is now ready for use and no further adjustments will be required for registering the lines of entry until a new summary sheet has to be inserted. An entry is now made by hand on the record card II8, copies thereof being simultaneously produced on the summary sheet and on the top envelopeof the stack in the magazine. The handle I0 is then actuated whereby the magazine is rendered accessible and the uppermost envelope with the entry on it is removed. The actuation of the handle I0 results also in the rack, together with the summary sheet, being moved-upwards a distance corresponding to the'pitch of the rack teeth and'also to" the spacing of the lines on the summary sheet so that the nextline of entry on the sum-*- mary sheet registers with the line of entry on the envelope in the magazine. The block I05 will not have been moved upwards when the handle Ill was actuated, as the spring-pressed ball in engagement with one of the holes in the plate H3 will retain it in position so that when the levers III are depressed, the record card re moved,- and a new record card inserted in the slot of the plate I06 with its upper edge engaging'the stop H2, the required or first free line of entry on the" card will be in register with the next free line of entry on the summary sheet. This cycle of operations is repeated until all the lines of entry on the summary sheet are completed and when-the summary sheet isreplaced by a new one, it will be necessary to re-adjust the position of the rack to bring the first line of entry of thenewsummary sheet in register with the line of entry on the" uppermost pay envelope in the mag azine.

Usually, after the entry has been made onanindividual record card, e. g., of the wages one week, a second similar entry will be made on the following week and so on. Consequently for each of the succeeding entries, it is only neces sary to move the block I05 alongthe bar llll until the spring pressed ball engages the next hole in the plate H3, so that when the record cardis-inserted with its'upper edge engaging the stop 2, the next free line of entry will be in correct register with the lines of entry on the summary sheet and the pay envelope.

It will be understood that the'clampingl device for the record card and the method or retaining it any one of a number of positions described above and illustrated in the drawings, are by way of example only and are capable of considerable modification.

I" claim:

1-. A manifolding or copying apparatus com prising a supporting member, a magazine adapted to*h0ld-'a number of slips, of the kind including envelopes and slips of paper, the uppermost slip being substantially level with thesuiface of the supporting member, a first clamping device for gripping the edge of a sheet placed on the supporting member and above the said magazine,

means whereby the said clamping device may V be moved in'st'eps relatively to the magazine, a second clamping device for gripping the edg'eof a" second sheet placed above the first sheetmeans whereby the said second clamping device-is movable relatively to the first mentioned clampingdevice and to the magazine, and interengaging members mounted on said second clamping device and fixed to said supporting member respectively'for retaining the said second clamping device in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions relatively tosaid magazine despite movement of said first clamping device.

21 Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the said second clamping device is provided with a-stbp forlocating the position of the said second sheet;

3.-A manifolding and copying apparatus com-' prising a supporting member, a magazine adapted- 8, to hold a number of slips, of the kind including envelopes and slips of paper, the uppermost slip being. substantially level with the surface of the" supporting member, a first clamping device com-' prising abar slidably mounted on said support ing member and a clamping bar pivoted atone end to one end of the said slidin bar and lo'ck ing means for detachably securing together the ends of said sliding bar and said clamping bar remote from said pivot whereby the edge or a sheet of paper placed on the supporting mem bet and above said magazine may be clamped between said bars, means for moving said first clamping device in steps relatively to saidniag'a zine, a second clamping device for gripping the edge of a second sheet placed above the first sheet,- said second clamping device being slidably mounted on saidclamping bar of said first clampmg device, a plate having a seriesof recesses fixed on said supporting member, means mounted on said second clamping device for engagement with any one of said series of recesses whereby said second clamping device will be retainedin any one of a plurality of predetermined positions relatively to said magazine, despite movement of said first clamping device, I

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein a plurality of pins project from the upper face ofthe said sliding bar to' engage in holes in the first mentioned sheet, and the said clamping bar' has recesses in its under face to receive the said pins.

5. Apparatus as defined inclaim 3, wherein the said second clamping device carries a springpressed plunger for engagement in any one of the said series of recesses to retain the said second clamping device in any one of a number of p'o'' sitions. V

6, Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein-the said second clamping device comprises a plate having a slot therein whereb it is U-shaped cross-section, two holes being formed through one fade or said plate providing communication with said slot} a flat spring secured to said plate atits center and supported intermediate its ends by two stops on said plate, two pins'cafrie'dby' said fiat spring one on each ,7 end thereof and aligning with and urged by said spring into said holes,- and means for depressing saidsprmgsetween said stops and its center whereby the' en'ds of said spring will be raised to retract said pinsfrom said holes in the plate.- I V THEODORE ARTHUR SOLWAY,

Formerly Tzbor Zsolnai,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

